A TRANSPORT and warehouse training business is promoting the industry to young people, including girls, who are looking for careers with a future.

Transport Training Academy, based in Atherton, says the logistics trade offers a variety of good careers where people can earn £40,000 or more.

It has just launched a contest offering a £2,500 training package for free to a young hopeful aged 18 or 19 who fancies a career in the industry. The academy is also a patron of Bolton Lads & Girls Club and it hosts regular work placements for youngsters to boost their skills and CVs.

The firm provides training for fork-lift trucks, vans, and light and heavy wagons. These include 7.5-tonne bread vans and 44-tonne articulated lorries. It prepares drivers for tests associated with the three main classes of commercial vehicle licences which can be taken from the age of 18. Trainees must have a car licence before moving on to other licences.

The firm’s Gloucester Street site, a former British Gas centre, includes a replica driving test area of those used by the Driver Standards Agency, a training warehouse, loading areas and classrooms. The business also provides bus and coach driver training working with other firms. It typically trains between 30 and 50 people weekly and also works at other locations. It is currently developing a satellite site in Ashton under Lyne.

Rachael Scanlin, one of the firm’s managers, said: “Our clients include commercial customers such as haulage and warehousing firms, vocational training and apprenticeship organisations, and the MOD. We run career transition projects for men and women leaving the armed forces.

“We also provide pre-employment courses for unemployed people. That includes working with Bolton Lads and Girls Club. Youngsters typically come here for four weeks for training in warehouse storage or driving and related skills.

“These placements make people more employable. They help raise people’s self-confidence, pride and work ethic, which is vital. Placements also give people practical skills and a properly-presented reference which they can take to job interviews. It’s quite humbling to see people often with low self-esteem become hopeful again and raring to go. Good work experience can be life-changing.”

The firm was formed in 2004 by David Coupe, aged 48, a wagon driver who had worked for a number of hauliers. He grew up in Eagley and attended Turton High School. He started the business from a unit in Egerton Street, Farnworth, but moved to the bigger Atherton site this year.

He said: “I always thought training could be done better. I often saw shortcomings, with guys coming into the industry who lacked some basic skills, including some driving skills. In the old days, once a driver passed their test, off they went. There was no further training.

“I’m a real advocate of driver training. We want to develop people and we explain to transport firms that good development can help a business’s bottom line. Efficient driving makes a real difference because the industry works to such tight margins. Fuel consumption is one of the few areas where they can really make savings.”

Recalling the early days, he said: “I worked with associates from day one but the business grew quickly. Within 18 months we had to employ people. We now have 10 staff and plans to grow further.”

Rachael Scanlin, aged 41, grew up in Burnley and worked in the hotel industry before moving transport. Through hotel work, she met staff from Night Freight, which operated a training school in Burnley. She moved into transport sales work and then driver development. She later worked for Volvo dealer Thomas Hardy.

A Burnley FC fan, she said: “When I first moved into transport, I knew nothing about fork-lift trucks or wagons. However I said I would give it a go. My mum now reckons that I’m ‘half-bloke’ because I talk about fork-lift trucks, wagons and Match of the Day.

“Logistcs was a male-dominated world when I started but one of my old projects involved working with the European Social Fund to train 100 women. I drove a pink truck for the campaign, called Girls and Gear, which was very successful. We appeared on Granada TV and the Sunday Times.

“There is definitely a place for women in the industry. Home delivery, sales and customer service work is massive today — often delivering goods to women at home. It’s not an oily, dirty industry.”

The firm emphasised its support for other businesses across the area. It has worked with firms including The Silk Group, Alliance Learning, DigiComm, Asbury & Associates Accountants, Manta Design, Display Equipment, Indespension trailers, Gary Willams Joinery in Bromley Cross, JW Autos in Tonge Moor, Farnworth-based Barry Burke for truck maintenance, and Whites waste recycling in Raikes Lane.

It also supports Atherton Carnival, saying community links are also important.

Speaking about trade during the recession, Mr Coupe said: “This had a big impact on the transport industry’s upgrading of drivers. Some businesses were put off investing in staff. If there’s a recession, training is one of the first things that goes. Some firms just brought in drivers for specific jobs, if needed, rather than spend a few hundred quid on developing one if their own drivers.

“However things are always changing and staff training is now coming back again. The industry is always the first to be affected by environmental policy changes and the forthcoming introduction of the Euro 6 engine will have a big impact.

“These new engines are cleaner but the operating costs are greater because they do less miles per gallon. So firms will need to think seriously about training drivers for efficient fuel consumption.”

Looking ahead, he said: “We really try to get young people interested in the industry. Fifty per cent of people in the sector are aged over 50. It has not been seen as a career of choice for many young people because of its ‘dirty’ image. Traditionally many transport firms were family-owned and passed from father to son. That also perhaps stopped others from entering the sector.

“However over the next two years we plan to really engage with young people, to visit schools and to promote the industry to boys and girls.”

Recent female recruits include Vanessa Bell, aged 21, from Atherton, who will work for Esprit in Trafford Park.

Internally, Emily Tickle, aged 21, from Wigan, has been promoted to logistIcs employment co-ordinator while Melissa Cowburn, aged 16, from Hindley Green, has been recruited to fill Emily’s former position.

Mr Coupe said: “The industry offers good career opportunities. People can earn £40,000 or more and there are massive career development opportunities. They don’t need to go to university. Transport is fundamental to the economy, which is why it offers good prospects.”

Applications for the trainee package should be 250 words maximum and sent to Transport Training Academy, 25 Gloucester Street, Atherton, M46 0JD. Alternatively email info@ttacademy.com. The offer is only open to 18 and 19 year olds. Firms interested in offering an apprenticeship to the successful candidate are also asked to contact Transport Training Academy.